Advice on arpeggios needed

[persona]

I'm very good at arpeggios when they don't include repeated notes (for example G B D - G B D... or also G B D F - G B D F...) but I'm having A LOT of trouble when notes are repeated (I mean for example G D B D - G D B D - A D B D - A D B D - F# D A D - F# D A D - G D B D - G D B D). The problem is, whenever I get to a part that includes such arpeggios on the left hand, my tempo automatically decreases a lot, and also, the repeated note (D) is the one that is heard the most (when actually, as far as I know, it should be heard the least). I've tried several things to improve the sound of this arpeggios, I've already incorporated wrist movement which is obviously vital, but still they sound terrible. What should I try?

[slobone]

I'm a little confused by your description -- those don't sound like arpeggios to me. Are you sure you're not thinking of the Alberti bass (such as Mozart et al used a lot)?

If so, then in GDBD, for example, the reason the D's sound louder than they should is that you're playing them with the thumb, which is the strongest finger. You could try practicing them "dotted":

G -- (long wait) -- DBDG (very quickly), then keep repeating the pattern.

Then hold a different note: GD -- (long wait) -- BDGD (quickly) etc.

Also, decrease the overall volume in the left hand when you have a pattern like that. Those notes are usually meant to be background filler. Your right hand should be much more audible than the left.

[persona]

I was talking about a passage like this one (mostly found in the classical period, that's true). I was almost sure this is called an arpeggio. If it's not, then that's 100% news to me.

[jinfiesto]

I suppose that's technically an arpeggio, it's a broken up chord, but it's called an alberti bass most of the time. Voice the notes that aren't repeated? Um, are you doing hands alone practice?

[persona]

Yes, that's the worst of all. When I play the left hand alone it sound pretty much the way it's supposed to (the bass note sounds loudest, the mediant sounds a little less and the D is harldy heard at all). I'm having a lot of trouble playing both hands simultaneously though, because the left hand sounds awfully loud and it competely messes up my tempo (I mean, I can't make the left hand get "up to speed" with the right hand).

[hyrst]

In a simple Alberti bass like this one, there are a few things to watch for. 
Are you swinging your elbow at all?  Your elbow should be still, with a rocking/rotating of the wrists in line with the lower arm.  Try resting your left elbow in your right hand and make sure it is relaxed and not swinging. 

It can also help to keep the fingers on the keys, while lifting the right hand higher.  Keep focused on the notes you want to sound louder, usually the first of every four - the lower note in the chord.  Play slowly and relax, make sure you are pressing evenly into the keys.

Listen carefully to the melody instead of focusing on the left hand that you are trying to make softer.

Enjoy.

[thierry13]

I was talking about a passage like this one (mostly found in the classical period, that's true). I was almost sure this is called an arpeggio. If it's not, then that's 100% news to me.

An arpeggio would be in a continuous movement ( G B D G B D, etc.). What you are having difficulty with is an Alberti bass. You must make sure that your rotations are even. I am allmost sure your difficulty comes from a wrong movement because you play some notes stronger than the others. Practice in perfect eveness, making sure you are doing symetrical rotations. Maybe you will want to add subtelty to it afterwards, but anyways in a classical style, all notes are probably much more even than what you think, the way you say it it's allmost like a faded harmony effect. The composer was probably not looking for that when he wrote it. There are very few "barely heard" notes in classical music. All notes have their tonal meaning and are important.

[keypeg]

Rotation of the hand along the axis of the forearm or "the wrist rotating" so to say?

[thierry13]

Rotation of the hand along the axis of the forearm or "the wrist rotating" so to say?

Exact same thing. Try "rotating your wrist"  You'll surprised to see your whole forearm moving Your wrist can not rotate on this axis alone. It can only bend on the Y axis alone.